Condiment holder



1943- H. R. ALBION 2,328,246

CONDIMENT HOLDER Filed April 9, 1942 flew/Wk AL BIO/V ing it diillcult to clean the cover.

Patented Aug. 31, 1,943

UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE sp ucgfz atnfrf a ruizs8,309 2 Claims. (01 65-45) This invention relates to a condiment holder such as used for holding and dispensing salt, pepper, spices, and the like.

At the present time condiment holders, such as salt shakers, are found objectionable for a number of reasons. In actual use, it has been found that since the outlet openings are formed through the top or cover, the salt becomes moist by exposure to damp air and will not flow freely through the outlet openings. It has also been found that the damp salt corrodes the metal cover and particularly around the outlet openings, thus clogging said openings and also mak- Inaddition, corrosion of the cover makes it difllcult to remove the cover when cleaning or refilling is necessary and it is also difficult to replace the cover. The fact that the outlet openings are formed through the cover and the salt corrodes the cover about the openings, detracts from the appearance of the salt shaker and also, when the outlet openings are formed through the cover, water or other liquids accidentally spilled upon a salt shaker, can flow through said openings and not only cause the salt to become moist but also adhere to the cover and clog the openings.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide a salt shaker or condiment holder consisting of companion cylindrical members fitting one within the other and having their walls formed with openings adapted to register and form an outlet when the outer member is turned to a predetermined position and form an outlet through which salt may freely flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment holder consisting of companion cylindrical members having the outlet openings in their walls so located that they will be shielded by an outstanding annular bead formed about the top of the outer member'and water prevented from running through the openings if spilled upon the salt shaker while the openings are in registry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment holder wherein the outer cylindrical member is so formed that it may be easily turned about the inner member but has such frictional grip upon walls of the inner member that it will have initials or ornamentation applied thereto and thus provide a condiment holder which is very attractive in appearance.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved condiment holder.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the inner cylindrical member of the condiment holder.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken vertically glgrgolligh the condiment holder on the line 3--3 of Fig. 4 is a sectional. view taken transversely through the upper portion of the condiment holder on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through the lower portion of the condiment holder on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the condiment holder partly in top plan and partly in transverse section, with the outer member turned to a posi tion disposing the outlet openings out of registry.

This condiment holder has a cylindrical body or inner member I and a companion outer member or cover 2 which is also cylindrical and fits about the inner member. The inner member or body I .has a base 3 which is of greater diameter than the body and projects outwardly therefrom to form an outstanding annular shoulder or ledge 4 for engagement by the lower end of the cover or outer member 2, while the cover or outer member has a top or head 5 at its upper end formed with an internal depression 6 surrounded by an annular shoulder 6' for engagement by the upper end walls of the body or inner member when the cover is in place about the body. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and, referring to this figure, it-will be seen that the top or head 5 is of greater diameter than walls of the cover and hasits marginal P rtions projecting outwardly to form an outstanding flange body and the other hand grasping the cover 7 about margins of the outstanding bead or flange thereof. Turning motion may then be imparted to the cover to move the sid opening 8 thereof outwardly. and salt or the like in the body may easily flow through the registering opennigs. In view of the fact that the opening 8 is located under the flange I, in close proximity thereto, water accidentally spilled upon the top or head of the cover will not enter the opening 8. In addition, the fact that the opening flares outwardly will prevent Water from flowing inwardly through the opening it it should attempt to do so after flowing over the edge of the top 5 and downwardly along walls of the cover.

The cylindrical body I is circular in cross sec- I tion throughout its length and of even diameter throughout its length.- The cover is Circular at its upper end, as shown i-nFig. 4, but its lower end portion is of somewhat elliptical shape in cross section, as shown in Fig. 5. The walls of the cover are, however. oi. the same thickness throughout its length and the length of its periphery the same at all points throughout its length from the flange 'I to its lower end.

It is also to be noted that the elements of the condiment holder may be formed of plastic, metal, or a combination of materials and that suflicient give is permitted for the walls of the cover to have frictional gripping engagement with walls of the body across the minor axis of the lower elliptical end portion oi. the cover. This frictional grip causes ,the cover to remain flrmly in place about the body and it cannot accidentally slip out of place about the body or accidentally turn about the body. I

It is necessary to grasp the body and the cover by the flanges 4 and l and deliberately impart turning movement, in order to bring the openings 8 and 9 into or out of registry and it is also necessary to firmly grasp the flanges and exert pull or push thereon during a turning movement, i order to apply the cover to the body or withdraw the cover therefrom when refilling of the body is necessary. A dot or equivalent mark I is provided upon the head over the opening 8 to designate its location when looking at the top of the cover, and companion marks II and I! are provided upon the lower end of the cover and the outstanding flange of the bottom 3 in order that proper registry of the two openings may be assured by turning the cover until the mark II is directly over mark l2. Since the top or head has a relatively large and smooth surface, initials or other desired decoration may be provided upon said upper surface of the head and add to the attractiveness of the condiment holder.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A condiment holder comprising a body having a cylindrical wall formed with an outlet, 9. cover having a cylindrical wall fitting snugly about the wall of the body and formed with an outlet moved into and out of register with the outlet of the body by turning the cover about the body, the outlet of the body being tapered toward its outer end, and the outlet of the cover flaring toward its outer end.

2. A condiment holder comprising a body open at its top and having a cylindrical wall and a radially enlarged base defining an outstanding abrupt shoulder surrounding the lower end of the wall, a cover having a head resting on the upper end of said body and a cylindrical wall fitting about the wall of said body and at its lower end bearing against said shoulder, the wall of said body being circular in cross section and of an even diameter throughout its length, the wall of said cover being circular in cross section for the major portion of its length from its upper end and having its lower portion substantially elliptical in cross section to provide frictional gripping engagement with the wall of the body at opposite sides thereof, said shoulder projecting outwardly fromthe wall of the cover for the entire circumference thereof, the wall of said body being formed with a recess leading from its upper edge and constituting an outlet opening, and the wall of said cover being formed at its upper end with an outlet opening movable into and out of registry with the outlet of the body by turning the cover about the body.

HENRY R. ALBION. 

